Power projection costs a lot of money. Power projection in multiple regions concurrently costs a lot as well. When the US got out of Vietnam, and also moved to move to an engage China as an offset to the Soviet Union, there was an inclination to back off a presence in East Asia.

At that time, China was not a growing economic power and had no resources for power projection.

Times have changed, the US got focused on Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.

An interesting thing now, is that the US is shifting its focus back, hence agreements with Australia and moves with the the Philipenes. That being said, as I noted before, China's enormous economic growth, along with their increased appetite for resources sets them up as a primary player there. Bases are stationary targets though, and that force projection capability of China is growing.

I'm just stating that as there is no permanent base in the region, it leaves the door open for China, as having a US Fleet in the South China sea is ok, but if tensions rose to the point where your forces went to defcon 2 or even to defcon 1, where will that fleets replentishment come from?

The thing is, short of preventive war (which I am pretty sure you are not advocating, what China does in terms of its capability is pretty much up to China.

Of course it you would like to divert China for a while, someone needs to change the meds the powers in North Korea are consuming -- instead of focusing on the threat of the rest of the world, have them focus on China as the primary threat....

stationary targets though, and that force projection capability of China is growing.

China is becoming worrying upon the world stage, but at present too few people take that view ...

Appeasement....China knows exactly how the West will respond to any infringements
by China upon other countries territories. It wont be long before China does a
deal with Argentina over the Falkland Islands oil. You give us half of it and
we will support you in a military campaign to get these island back....
...anyone interested in buying some "war bonds"......

____________The Kite Fliers

--------------------
Kite fliers: An imaginary club of solo members, those who don't yet
belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.

Yeah, I got it, but I'm bilingual, I speak American and understand English <g>

It means I totally agree. And feel a sense of "fear".

[I forgot to translate American speak into English] :-)

You only speak American correctly if you speak it with a northeast Ohio or southeast Michigan accent. Ever notice that every news person on any channel no matter what state you are in always sounds the same. Thats because they are trained to speak like they're from NE Ohio or SE Michigan. Of course some local stations still have a slack jawed yokel for comic relief. The reason is this area seems to have the least accented verbiage of any place in the country. Though when I hear myself I think I'm a bit nasal.

BTW I can order food in french german spanish and not that I'd want it but English as well. Honestly? kidney pie. did the country run out of apples for god sake?
____________
In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope